Day 30 — carbon footprints + footprints in clay

Always relieved when this month is over (I am pretty tired, pun intended, see below. It’s been hectic with extra commitments, several deadlines, & added responsibilities). That said, I’ve got a good swag of poems from the past 30 days (not all of them uploaded here). & I’m pleased with many of them. I really want to see if I can assemble a chapbook’s worth (at least) as writing about this topic feels like the most important thing to be talking about. I still have many poems titled, semi drafted, half-researched, a line or two of, the basic idea for, etc … & will continue to work on developing them & refining the ones I’ve got. 

Too often, I feel I’ve been bogged down in doom & gloom about the issue (which is partly what the inactivists want) so reading more optimistic books this year has been helpful.

This final one has been in my head a while (I always try & leave one I’ve thought about a lot till last so it’s not as exhausting) … this one was dictated as I drove to work this morning & I kinda like how it is in this rough state though it might get tweaked in future versions.

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prints & treads 

okay petrochemical fossil fuel industry : i’m happy to talk about my : personal carbon footprint. i’m happy to : recycle : eat no meat : drive less : take less/no overseas flights : plant more trees : & so on : but if you seriously think : the world is gonna be changed : by a few : well-meaning : people advocating : personal responsibility : while you roar round : the world : continuing to extract in ever desperate ventures : in ever destructive ways : & continue : operating : scot-free : continue : the same thing you’ve been doing : for the past hundred years : then you are deluded

yes : i’ll keep working on my personal footprint : because i know it’s the right thing : for me to do : (for me : others can make up their own minds) : but i’m gonna : keep talking to them about it : keep engaging : keep asking questions : but likewise i’m gonna nag away at : my politicians more : email policy makers : lobby shareholders : to divest : attend protests : & whatever else : feels necessary

but mostly : attacking you : you goddamm greedy heartless sons of bitches : to keep : calling you out : about hypocritically : trying to foist : guilt : & responsibility : back on us : the consumers of your pollution : when you cynically : shut down better : cheaper : cleaner alternatives : so you can : continue your : obscene exploitation : & challenging you : about your tread marks : at the cavalcade of tread marks : you cause : because otherwise : the thousands & thousands & thousands & thousands of treads : tracks : marks : & maulings : caused by : the tyres : powering your tiring old : business model : will obliterate : my tiny footprints : in a heart beat

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Day 30 — TIL i learnt about the first early human tracks discovered in North Africa

85 footprints

100,000 years ago
Late Pleistocene
last Ice Age

rounded heels
short toe marks
arched indentations

five adults & children 
walked a rocky shoreline 
Homo sapiens : modern humans

gathering food from the sea?
just passing through? 
fleeing trouble?

unlike me — their 
sea level rise still 
generations away

Day 29 — 6% deflection + water bombing

Today’s poem is a mixture of quotation, paraphrase, & commentary on something one inactivist denier actually said. Presumably, with a straight face. A straight cold callous inhuman face.

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wet feet

should the West Antarctic Ice Sheet actually do 
what the scientists threaten — & slip off into the sea  
— is it really be the end-of-the-world calamity they contend

even if the sea rose 6 metres — it would only reclaim 
about 42,000 square kilometres of coastline
where roughly about 400 million people currently live

that sounds quite a lot of people — but hardly 
all humanity — less than 6% of world population
which is to say — 94% of us need not fear — inundation 

after all — it’s simply an equivalent number of people 
to the entire population of the US & UK — combined
a mere drop in the ocean — you might wryly remark

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Day 30 — TIL i learnt we’re bombing the ocean

hot water

year after year 
we’re setting 
ocean heat records 

last year alone
they absorbed 
eight Hiroshima 

atomic bombs 
detonating 
every second 

of every day

— nearly seven
hundred
thousand
every day

— five million
a week

— a Quarter.
Of a. Billion.
Bomb’s. Worth.
Every. Year.

* 480 a minute / 28 800 an hour / 691 200 a day / 4 838 400 a week / 251 596 800 a year

Day 28 — hard to take it seriously + sand

Working on poems about each of the IPCC Assessment Reports as well as the various Protocols that have been signed. This shows how unserious some of these conversations really are. There was much discussion over a single sentence. The balance of evidence suggests human influence on global climate. The debate over this sentence lasted well over several hours & various alternatives were proposed. This poem is non-factual fly-on-the-wall dialogue of that event.

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IPCC Madrid 1995 — the Saudis take the piss

Saudi Arabia : I’m sorry, “balance of evidence” is far too strong.

Suggestion : “appreciable” 
Saudi Arabia : No.

Suggestion : “detectable” 
Saudi Arabia : No.

Suggestion : “measurable” 
Saudi Arabia : No.

Suggestion : “noticeable perceptible observable” 
Saudi Arabia : No. No. No. 

Suggestion : You sure you’re not just being difficult because your vast oil reserves are threatened by action on Climate Change. 
Saudi Arabia :

Suggestion : “quantifiable” 
Saudi Arabia : No.

pause

Suggestion : “unmistakable” 
Saudi Arabia : Now, you’re just mocking us.

UK delegate : “discernible”

spontaneous applause

Saudi Arabia : That will be acceptable.

“The balance of evidence suggests a discernible human influence on global climate.” 

FFS. Discernible has connotations of barely perceptible. Appreciable on the other hand is large or important enough to be noticed. 

And, this was for the summary. The bit the politicians & journalists read. Not the detailed stuff the scientists engaged in. 

And so, by relentless tiny paper cuts, the world burns.

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Day 28 — TIL about sand

a sandalous praxis

despite boasting the world’s largest driest sand desert
Saudi Arabia imports Aussie sand to fuel its construction craze 

— perhaps we should’ve sanctioned our sand sales
till the Saudi spokesman saw sense (by the sea shore)

Day 27 — soft denial + shrinking rivers

As I wrote yesterday, climate denial is growing more sophisticated as the science is becoming more & more accepted. Inactivists are changing their modus operandi from outright denial to more subtle tactics — downplaying — deflecting — dividing — delaying — & despair-mongering. The poem I was playing with yesterday has, as I predicted, fragmented into more manageable pieces. This poem is a result of that (& is the first in suite of poems about the above-mentioned topics).

The Poetic Factoid started with a fun pun (one of my favourites) but sadly went in a more sombre direction than I had intended following some research.

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the softening of denial

i.
even hard core : denial becomes unviable : when relentless evidence : piles up : of extreme weather events : daily impact them : via : headlines & news feeds : social media & tv screens : as well as real time : beyond the windows : in their : backyards & gardens : over the fence : down the road : next door : the next state : friends & family in other parts of the country : overseas : round the world : even the fates : of complete strangers : poorer : differently hued : cultured : begin : to impact 

*****

Day 27 — TIL about the shrinking Nile

more than an Egyptian river

60 feet 
60 feet every year 
so shrinks the delta shoreline  

50 percent
50 per cent over the current century
the standard deviation the flow likely to increase by

doubling the likelihood of flooding
doubling the likelihood of drought

increasing water scarcity
endangering food security

does that make it a zero-sum loss
or a double zero-sum gain

either way, won’t be long before we say
— De Nile was a river in Egypt 

Day 26 — deflecting the wind + the real threat to birds

Ironically (cynically?) the more savvy climate deniers are changing their modus operandi moving from outright denial to more subtle tactics including — downplaying — deflecting — dividing — delaying — & despair-mongering. I’m working on a poem which attempts to address this, but it’s a challenging (& vast) topic so the poem may yet fragment into more manageable pieces.

That said, today’s poem explores an aspect of one popular type of deflection.

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birds of a feather deflect together 

Prominent deniers & numerous tear-jerking memes
express concern for the catastrophic killing fields
beneath the insidious weapons that are wind turbines.

Almost a billion birds are killed annually by these 
concrete & glass monsters/ I’m sorry I read that wrong
those numbers refer to buildings. Let me check the data: 

Ahhh here it is 175 million// Dammit that’s power lines. 
72 million// nope those are poisoned by misapplied pesticides. 
6.6 million perish by// hitting communications towers; 

Hang on, I’m surrounded by too many bits of paper.
The correct one is here somewhere — ahhh, almost 1 million birds 
die in// ah no, bugger, oil & gas industry fluid waste pits.

I’m sure I read it somewhere, just hang on please. Here it is.
Land-based wind turbines kill between 214,000 & 573,000 birds annually.
Not insignificant, but a small fraction compared with the estimated 

 1.4 billion to 3.7 billion bird deaths caused by pet cats
— & I don’t hear shrill claims to close the feline industry

*These numbers are taken from US statistics

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Day 26 — TI Reiterate the obvious

the true bird-killer

of course : the inconvenient reality is : climate change : global warming : is the absolute biggest threat : for hundreds of migratory bird species : devastating birds : from every habitat : many of which : are already stressed : by habitat loss : invasive species : & other environmental threats — this is already happening : & will only : continue : to exacerbate : as temps : rise

Day 25 — declaration & current live conflicts

How many Anzac Day poems can I write during NaPoWriMo? The theme of “climate change” overlayed on “Anzac Day” is challenging. I like the poem. It’s a first draft. My brain is pretty much fudge. 

And the Poetic Factoid poem that was gonna be wow-kapow! short & simple … has ballooned out of control & may now be the beginning of a suite of 28 poems. Though not tonight. 

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declaration

By continuing to megalomaniacally pursue 
corporate profit over planetary health 
fossil fuel companies have declared 
(& are continuing to declare)                    ! War !
with every new extreme extractive 
project they announce using
ever riskier technologies

They are declaring  ! War ! on the arctic 
on the Amazon, on Antartica too before long 
! War ! on far off out-of-the-way places
on our own backyards

! War ! on the oceans (in countless ways)
on freshwater supplies everywhere
rivers, groundwater, aquifers 
on our drinking water
on the atmosphere

! War ! 
on nature
on trees, forests, wetlands
on every living creature

on us

they have declared  !! WAR !! 

only we — refuse to admit — they have 

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Day 25 — TIL about the 28 LIVE conflicts in the world right now
(20 odd more than I presumed)

too many conflicts 

1. The Argument 
as we solemnly remember our participation 
in wars dating back 114 years plus
it’s probably productive to pause a moment
& realise there are currently 
28 live conflicts around the world
                                                         right now

some you will have heard of 
israel’s annexing of palestine perhaps
russia’s invasion of ukraine
syria, afghanistan, myanmar, iraq
et cetera et cetera et cetera 

my initial concept for this poem
was to write haiku length
potted histories of 5 or 6 
current conflicts in the world — this before
realising there were so so many

i mean i thought i was relatively 
up to date with what’s going on. 
i wasn’t. i would’ve score half. on a test.
maybe. but this poem is already too long
so instead all i’m going to do
is list all 28 conflicts. as they appear.
on the global conflict tracker website
& request you to take the time
to read each one. perhaps even
visit the site to learn more.  

(& keep your eyes out, for my
potted history suite, forthcoming)

2.
i. Americas
Criminal Violence in Mexico
Instability in the Northern Triangle
Instability in Haiti
Venezuela Crisis

ii. Asia
Instability in Afghanistan
Territorial Disputes in the South China Sea
North Korea Crisis
Instability in Pakistan
Conflict Between India and Pakistan
Confrontation Over Taiwan
Civil War in Myanmar

iii. Europe and Eurasia
War in Ukraine
Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict

iv. Middle East and North Africa
Conflict in Syria
Instability in Iraq
Instability in Lebanon
Conflict Between Turkey and Armed Kurdish Groups
Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
Civil Conflict in Libya
War in Yemen
Civil War in Sudan
Violent Extremism in the Sahel
Confrontation With Iran

v. Sub-Saharan Africa
Conflict in the Central African Republic
Conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo
Instability in South Sudan
Conflict With Al-Shabaab in Somalia
Conflict in Ethiopia

Day 24 — a scientist speaks + gargoyles respond

Irony aplenty in today’s topic as the poems take a decided shift (I think they’re going to anyway) away from what’s been before. You’ll understand why at the end of this poem …

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Runaway Gargoyle

There is : general scientific agreement : that the most : likely manner : in which mankind : is influencing the global climate : is through carbon dioxide release : from the burning of fossil fuels : there are : some : potentially catastrophic events : that must be considered : rainfall might get heavier : in some regions : other places might turn to desert : some countries : would have their : agricultural output : reduced : or destroyed : man has a window : before the need : for hard decisions : regarding changes : in energy strategies : become critical : once the effects are measurable : they might not be : reversible

so spake : highly respected : senior scientist : James F. Black : waaay back in the 70’s : (words his : formatting mine)

the twist in the tail : the kick in the pants : the punch in the gut : the knife in the heart : the stab in the back : the sell the whole damn world down the river just for greed’s & profits’ sake :

is that Black : was a lead scientist : for fossil fuel giant Exxon : but rather than : heeding its own scientists’ warnings : it : & every petrochemical company since : has waged the most aggressive : PR deny & deflect campaign : snow job : contesting the scientific evidence : using all their : (not inconsiderable) : wealth & power : to lobby : purchase politicians : stymy global protocols : & to block : absolutely anything : & everything : even to the point : of purchasing : green competitors & technologies : only to shut them down : repressing : every : single : thing : (i repeat trying not to get hysterical) : aimed at curbing : their carbon polluting : cash cow : which is slowly : (& more & more so : swiftly) : killing : our : only : home

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Day 24 — TIL about the original gargoyles

irony overload

knowing : what i know now : that fact that : exxonmobile’s original company : vacuum oil : used a gargoyle : as its logo : portrays : next : level : irony

given people : once believed : gargoyles protect : the buildings : they guard  — not pillage them : that they could : ward off evil spirits — not rape the planet & poison the air

some christian legends : state : gargoyles are : monsters : that attack people

& aside from keeping water : off of buildings : on churches : they supposedly : remind sinners : of the terror of evil : gargoyles : were meant to : shake you : quake you : make you : fear : hell & the devil

all of which : seem eminently reasonable : emotions to feel : about the richest : most immoral : entities : the world : has ever known

Day 23 — Marlowe MashUp + History

In the past week I’ve read the same poem in three different anthologies. It’s unusual for me to have read so many anthologies during NaPoWriMo (normally it might only be one or even none, I tend to prefer volumes by a single poet) but I’ve felt a stronger desire for variety this month — & anthologies definitely give you that. Except in regards to this poem. I took it as a sign. 

Today’s poem is a tweak on the Shakespeare focus I usually have on this day. It is a reworked version of Marlowe’s, The Passionate Shepherd to His Love. 

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The Passionate Capitalist to His Doom

Come frack with me and be my doom, 
And we will all the world’s riches groom, 
Those Valleys, groves, hills, and fields, 
Woods, or steepy mountain yields. 

And we will tear up every rock, 
Strip the Shepherd from his flock, 
Pump our waste into River waters 
& so Create infertility in our daughters.

Poison aquifers, ramp up your ire, 
Enable tap water to be lit on fire: 
And if these pursuits fill you not with gloom, 
Come frack with me, and cause our doom. 

Capitalist Bastards shall rip and plunder 
Turn the world utterly asunder: 
If these delights in thy mind do bloom, 
Then frack with me, and cause our doom.

*****

Day 23 – TIL  some things about Christopher Marlowe

Marlowe: A Potted History 

Marlowe’s nickname was Kit
& like a more modern KITT
was a Knight Rider who served 
as one of the Virgin Queen’s spies ;
a shadowy flight into the dangerous 
world of a man who did not exist.

Was once arrested for counterfeiting 
coins in Holland ; a crime punishable 
by death, but … nothing happened.

Some say : he should’ve been
executed for his terrible
translations of ancient verse
particularly Ovid’s book 
of love pomes , Amores.

Symbolically killed in 1593
cos Bill Shaxpere no longer 
had time to be both him
                                         & himself 

Day 22 — calefaction + comfort zones

Too often, my first drafts while researching topics are a bit heavy-handed, a bit dry. This one I like because it’s more ethereal. More elegant. I probably shouldn’t post it in its entirety. But I must: I like it. And the Poetic Factoid is just fun.

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The Horse-Powered Apocalypse 

She doesn’t rustle branches.
Hair doesn’t ruffle.
She doesn’t arch up like a wave.
Earth doesn’t tremble.

She is subtle, predatory.
Something almost unholy.
She sneaks, thief-like
but ends by committing assault.

She is vital, active, brutal.
Kills more every year than guns.
Yet we rarely consider her.
We scoff at and scorn her.

She is extreme. She is coming
Correction.       She.   Is.   Here.

*****

Day 22 — TIL about comfort zones

rift valley thermostat

as a general rule
our genes love heat
preferring desert 
island paradises
to ice-covered 
coldilocks zones

the majority of times 
when we can choose 
how our air is conditioned 
preferred temperature 
is a low humidity 22°c

a combination 
that closely resembles
humanity’s east 
african birthplace 
where we first walked 
hundreds of thousands 
of years ago

Day 21 — dominion & Dominions

This is a poem/idea I’m pretty pleased with. It took a few goes to find exactly what worked best, but when I figured it out, I was extremely chuffed. It’s a visual poem which I think by using less, says a lot.

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Extractive Dominion 
Be fruitful and multiply, and replenish the earth and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the fowl of the air and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth. Genesis 1:28

1. 
 xtractiv 
B  fruitful and multiply, and r pl nish th   arth and subdu  it: and hav  dominion ov r th  fish of th  s a and ov r th  fowl of th  air and ov r  v ry living thing that mov th upon th   arth.

2. 
 x rac iv 
B  frui ful and mul iply, and r pl nish  h   ar h and subdu  i : and hav  dominion ov r  h  fish of  h  s a and ov r  h  fowl of  h  air and ov r  v ry living  hing  ha  mov  h upon  h   ar h.

3. 
 x r c iv 
B  frui ful  nd mul iply,  nd r pl nish  h    r h  nd subdu  i :  nd h v  dominion ov r  h  fish of  h  s    nd ov r  h  fowl of  h   ir  nd ov r  v ry living  hing  h   mov  h upon  h    r h.

4. 
 x r c  v 
B  fru  ful  nd mul  ply,  nd r pl n sh  h    r h  nd subdu    :  nd h v  dom n on ov r  h  f sh of  h  s    nd ov r  h  fowl of  h    r  nd ov r  v ry l v ng  h ng  h   mov  h upon  h    r h.

5. 
 x   c  v 
B  f u  ful  nd mul  ply,  nd   pl n sh  h      h  nd subdu    :  nd h v  dom n on ov    h  f sh of  h  s    nd ov    h  fowl of  h       nd ov    v  y l v ng  h ng  h   mov  h upon  h      h.

6.
 x   c    
B  f u  ful  nd mul  ply,  nd   pl n sh  h      h  nd subdu    :  nd h    dom n on o     h  f sh of  h  s    nd o     h  fowl of  h       nd o        y l   ng  h ng  h   mo   h upon  h      h.

*****

Day 21 — TIL about conflicting information about Dominions

the duty of Dominions

in a strange : etymological irony : the angelic order : known as dominions : lords of the lower choirs : humanity : have been variously ascribed : a range of roles : within creation’s : governance

but most often : their mission is to administer : our universe : control the elements : supervise sun, moon, & stars : keep the planets rotating : oversee seasons : every aspect of nature : basically

it seems : they have become : derelict : in their duty